Automatic weft-replenishing apparatus for looms.



No. 886,542. PATENTED MAY 5, 1908. J. ROSTRON & T. WORMAN. AUTOMATIOWEFT REPLENISHING APPARATUS FOR LOOMS.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 20j 1905.

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W .-HH H Sal a- WWW/074 W'umsssss PATENTED MAY 5, 1908. J. ROSTRON & T. WORMAN.

AUTOMATIC WEFT REPLENISHING APPARATUS FOR LOOMS.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 20, 1905.

3 SHBETS-SHEET 2.

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No. 886,542. PATENTED MAY 5, 1908.

J. ROSTRON & T. WORMAN. AUTOMATIC WEFTRBPLENISH'ING APPARATUS FOR. LO OMS.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 20, 1905.

3 8HEETS SHEE T 3.

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Unrrnn STATES PATENT orrron.

JAMES ROSTRON, OF BRADFORD, AND THOMAS WORMAN, OF MANCHESTER, ENGLAND.

AUTOMATIC WEFT-REPLENISHING APPARATUS FOR LOOMS.

' Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 5, 1908.

Application filed. May 20, 1905. Serial No. 261,382.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, JAMES Ros'rRoN and THOMAS WORMAN, both subjects of the King of Great Britain and Ireland, and residents of Bradford and Manchester, England, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic l/Veft-Replenishing Apparatus for Looms, of which the following is a specification.

This invention refers to and consists of a new or improved combination of devices for use with looms whereby when the shuttle becomes empty a newly filled shuttle will be automatically introduced into the shuttle box and the empty shuttle be simultaneously ejected.

The invention is used with any suitable form of feeler motion, and preferably that of the kind in which a spring-urged sleeve on the shuttle tongue acts upon the cop, and

when the cop is exhausted moves along the tongue and brings about the operation of the reshuttling mechanism. The said reshuttling mechanism, which forms the feature of this invention, is hereinafter described in reference to the accompanying drawing, whereon Figure 1 shows a shuttle fitted with the said sleeve and spring, and shows the position of the sleeve and spring when a full cop is first placed in the shuttle. Fig. 2 shows the same shuttle and the position of the said sleeve and spring after the cop has been exhausted. Fig. 3 shows a side elevation, and Fig. 4 a plan of the left hand end of a loom (in part) with those parts of the invention used at that end of the loom shown applied thereto. Figs. 5 and 6 show front and plan views respectively of the right hand end of the loom (in part) with those parts of the invention used at that end of the loom shown applied thereto, certain of the parts being broken away to permit of the invention being more readily understood. Fig. 7 shows a side view of the right hand end of the loom (in part), partly in elevation and partly in section. Figs. 8 and 9 show an elevation and plan respectively of certain important details shown in Figs. 1 and 2 separately, and to a larger scale.

Referring now to Figs. 1 and 2 (1) is the shuttle and (2) the shuttle tongue hinged to the fixed part (3) in the usual way. (4)

is the loose sliding sleeve on the shuttle hook (10),

tongue and (5) is the spiral or volute spring used for moving the sleeve along the tongue when the cop is spent.

To allow for the use of a long spring without taking up too much room, the sleeve is recessed, and one end of the spring fits in such recess, see Fig. 1.

In the wall of the shuttle body is an elongated opening (6). Each shuttle used with the loom is made and fitted in the manner described.

Referring now to Figs. 3 and 4:, fast upon a rod or cross shaft (7 rotatably mounted in bearings in the loom frame sides, is an uprising lever arm (8), andsecured to the free and upper extremity of such arm is a laterally projecting and forked bracket (9). Carried in turn by such bracket is a swivel catch or hook (10) with depending arm or extension (11). Upon the loom side is a fixed bracket (12) and rigidly bolted to such bracket is an upright (13). Carried by such upright near to its upper. end is a tubular boss (14) and in such boss slidably fits a small stem or plunger (15). end by means of set bolt (16) to the opposite side of the upright (13) is a spring blade (17), its free end being secured to the plunger (15), and coming immediately behind the depending arm (11) of the hook (10) as shown in Figs. 3 and 9.

The position of the plunger (15) is such that as the slay moves forward to beat up the weft the point of the plunger projects through an opening (18) in the shuttle box front (19) and through the opening (6) in the side of the shuttle body, which at that moment is in the left hand shuttle box and if there be sufficient weft in the shuttle to hold the sleeve in the position shown in Fig. 1, the said stem or plunger meets the sleeve (4), which advancing wlth the slay pushes back the plunger for a distance which causes it to press back the spring blade (17) and arm (11), and lift the hook (10) until the slay makes its return movement, when the hook falls and the plunger resumes its former position.

Loose upon the same shaft (7) which carries the lever arm (8) is a further lever arm (20), the upper end of which extends later ally towards and immediately beneath the and at that part is curved to pro- Fixed at one vide a sharp shoulder for the hook (10) to lie upon when at rest, and engage such shoulder when required as hereinafter explained. By means of a link (21) the said lever arm (20) is connected to the usual weft fork hammer lever (22), and therefore, with the loom at work, such lever arm (20) is constantly mov= ing to and fro in the arc of a circle in sym= pathy with the hammer lever (22).

Referring now to Figs. 5, 6 and 7, Fast upon the opposite end of the shaft (7) is a finger or crank (23), and carried by such crank is a cross plate (24). Secured toone end of such cross-plate is an extension (25) Which is sli htly bent and normally rests on the top of t the lever arm (8) see Figs. 3 and 4 erect),

and which at its free end is slightly cranked,

see Fig. 6. Secured to or formed on the opposite end of the plate (24) is a beveled block (26).

Immediately in front of the right hand shuttle box and secured to the loom frame casing (28) which in plan is of shuttle shape, and in size is adapted to receive and hold a by brackets (27) is an open-ended sheet metal series of newly filled shuttles one upon another. To the rear of the said casing two (or more) thin metal blades (29) are secured, the lower ends of which are free and are bent and lie under the casing, see Fig. 7. Upon such bent and free extremities normally rest the lowermost shuttle in the casing. Immediately in front and below the level of the casing is a bracket (30) and from such bracket and below the casing extend two rods (31). In place of the usual fixed front the right hand shuttle box is now provided with a loose plate-like front (32) which is carried at the end of a long lever (33) which takes its bearing in a bracket (34), see Fig.7. In the said lever is a slot (35) and by means of a latch (36) secured to the underside of the slay, and projecting through and engaging the lever, the front is held in the position shown in Fig. 7. When, however, the latch is raised, the said lever, under the pull of a stron spring (37) acting on its lower end, quickly moves the shuttle boxfront away from the shuttle box to a point beyond the lower and open end of the casing (28), thereby pushing the bent and free ends of the blades (29) before it, and allowing the lowermost shuttle to fall by gravity on to the rods (31). Upon the slay making its inward movement for the next beat up, the slay sword comes against a cranked extension (38) of the lever axis (39) and. pressing against it causes the shuttle box front to approach the shuttle box, and thus push the newly-filled shuttle towards the ends of the rods (31), while the slay, receives such shuttle, holes (31 being formed in the slay to allow' e loom frame side (thus holding moving forward,

of its advancing l is sufficiently far to fully receive the shuttle, and to allow the front (32) to resume its normal position, and for the lever (33) to become relatched by the latch (36) by. the time the slay is ready to take its return movement. As soon as the front (32) begins to approach the slay the blades (29) follow it up, and by the time the shuttle is in the shuttle box they again lie below the casing, and again carry the column of shuttles.

To assist in bridging over the space between the casing (28) and the slay, bent blades (40) may be attached to the front of the slay, see Figs. 5, 6 and 7. The latch ('36) is carried by a forked support (41), which in turn is carried by a bracket (42) bolted to the underside of the slay see Fig. 7. The latch is formed in one with an extension (43) bent downwards and towards the'loom.

Just prior to the introduction of a new shuttle the old. empty shuttle is ejected in the following manner. The rear of the shuttle box is provided with a loose part (44), which is mounted at one end on a long pin or axis (45), and at its other end is free to turn inwards and lie across the entrance of the shuttle box as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 6, or lie parallel with the other parts of the back of the shuttle box as shown in full lines. Upon the axis (45) of such pivoted part, and below the slay, is a lever orfinger (46) lying parallel with the said part (44), and by means of a spring (47) exerting a pull on a lateral extension of the finger (46), the latter is normally held against the point of a set-screw (48), see Fig. 6, carried in a fixed portion of the loom, and thus holds the part (44) parallel with the shuttle box. Upon the said part being caused to lie across'the mouth of the shuttle box, the next pick of the empty shuttle causes the shuttle to pass behind the shuttle box and into a receiver or spout (49) from which it falls into a basket or skip placed to receive the spent shuttles.

Upon the new shuttle being at work with its sleeve (4) opposite the opening (6), the plunger (15) is again operated and the hook (10) held clear of the lever (20) until the cop is exhausted, when the sleeve moving along the shuttle tongue again brings about the ejection of the spent shuttle and the introduction of a newly filled shuttle, and so on continuously, so long as there are shuttles in the casing (28).

With the ordinary weft stop motion applied the loom' is automatically stopped when the weft breaks.

With a newly filled shuttle in use the sleeve (4) strikes the plunger (15) at each beat up and the hook (10) is held clear of the lever (20) when the latter is making its forward movement.

Immediately the cop is exhausted, or there only a very small amount of weft remaining on the shuttle tongue, the sleeve, under the influence of the spring (5), is moved along the tongue until it lies out of the way of the plunger. With the next beat up the plunger reniains idle, and failing to raise the hook allows it to be caught and pulled forward by the lever (20) under the movements of the hammer lever (22). In being thus engaged and moved the hook pulls forward the lever arm (8), rotates the shaft (7) and raises the arm (23), and with it the plate (24) and extension (25). This taking place as the slay is moving backwards the extension (43) of the latch (36) meets the block (26), and by reason of the obstruction offered by the block moves the latch on its axis and unlatches the lever (33) and shuttle box front, which latter then moves forward and takes behind the bottom shuttle as previously explained. With the further rearward movement of the slay the lever (46) meets the cranked end of the extension (25), and due to the resistance thereby offered rotates the loose part (44) of the shuttle box on its pivot and opens the way for the ejection of the spent shuttle,

which then takes place. As the slay makes its return movement to beat up, the lever (46) loses its abutment with the cranked end of the extension (25) and the part (44) closes. As the slay continues to move in, it receives the new shuttle, and the latch (36) rengages the lever (33), the new shuttle being then well home, and the parts ready to take up the weaving.

Due to the hammer lever (22) making its return movement before the extension (25) meets the block (26) the block is lowered out of the way and thus ofiers no obstruction to the latch.

What we claim is:-

1. In automatic weft replenishing devices for looms, a fixed upright on the loom frame, a plunger stern slidably carried by the up' right, a cross shaft extending across the loom, a lever fast on one end thereof, a hook like lever pivotally supported by the lever and having a depending extension, a spring blade secured to the said fixed upright and lying between the said plunger stem and the said lever extension both of which lie against it, a further lever loosely mounted on the said cross-shaft with sloping, curved and lateral extension, a weft fork hammer lever, and means for connecting such last named levers to each other, a further lever fast on the opposite end of the said cross-shaft, a fixed object for such lever to normally rest upon, a cross-bar carried by said lever, a cranked extension at one end and a beveled block at the other end of the cross-bar, a further shuttle box, a loose back part therefor, and a vertical axis for such part, a loose front part for such shuttle box, a rotary and cranked axis and a fixed bearing for such axis, a long lever fast upon said axis, carrying the said front, and formed with a slot, a latch pivotally mounted below the shuttle box and designed to normally engage the long lever, and said latch formed with a depending and laterally cranked extension, a spring for exerting a pull on the lower end of the long lever, an open ended casing for holding a series of shuttles one above another and means for sup porting the casing, a set of spring and cranked blades secured to the casing, and designed normally to project below and support the contents of the casing, a set of rods fixed horizontally below the casing and said last named shuttle box having holes for such rods to enter, a lever with cranked extremity mounted on the vertical axis of the said loose back part of the shuttle box and below the shuttle box, a spring for holding the said lever and loose back part normally in line with the fixed parts of the shuttle box, and said lever designed to engage the cranked extension on the said cross-bar carried by the said cross-shaft lever when the latter is raised, and the laterally cranked extension of the said long lever latch designed to engage the said beveled block of the cross bar when such block is raised, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

2. In automatic weft replenishing devices for looms, a shuttle box, a loose back part therefor and a vertical axis for such part, a loose front part for such shuttle box, a rotary and cranked axis and fixed bearing for such axis, a long lever fast upon said axis, carrying the said front, and formed with a slot, a latch pivotally mounted below the shuttle box and designed to normally engage the long lever, and said latch formed with a depending and laterally cranked extension, a spring for exerting a pull on the lower end of the long lever, an open-ended casing for holding a series of shuttles one above another, and means for supporting the casing, a set of spring and cranked blades secured to the casing, and designed normally to project below and support the contents of the casing, a set of rods fixed horizontally below the casing, and said last named shuttle box haying holes for such rods to enter, a lever with cranked extremity mounted on the vertical axis of the said loose back part of the shuttle box and below the shuttle box, a spring for holding the said lever and loose back part normally in line with the fixed parts of the shuttle box, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

3. In automatic weft replenishing devices for looms, a fixed upright on the loom frame, a plunger stem slidably carried by the upright a cross-shaft extending across the loom, a lever fast on one end thereof, a hook-like lever pivotally supported by the lever and having a depending extension, a spring blade secured to the said fixed upright and lying between the said plunger stem and the said lever extension both of Which lie against it, a further lever loosely mounted" on the said cross-shaft With sloping, curved and lateral extension, a Weft fork hammer lever, and means for connecting such last named levers to each other, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

In Witness whereof We have hereunto set our hands 1n the presence of tWo Witnesses.

JAMES ROSTRON; THOMAS WORMAN.

Witnesses:

JOHN CAMP, ProKLEs D. BAILEY. 

